Science Source

Breakup of the Larsen B Ice Shelf triggered by chain reaction drainage of supraglacial lakes

States that the explosive disintegration of the Larsen B Ice Shelf poses two unresolved questions:
- What process:
  - (1) set a horizontal fracture spacing sufficiently small to predispose the subsequent ice shelf fragments to capsize?
  - (2) synchronized the widespread drainage of >2750 supraglacial meltwater lakes observed in the days prior to break up?
Answers both questions through analysis of the ice shelf's elastic flexure response to the supraglacial lakes on the ice shelf prior to break up
Analysis suggests that drainage of a single lake can cause neighboring lakes to drain, which, in turn, causes farther removed lakes to drain
Concludes that such self-stimulating behavior can account for the sudden, widespread appearance of a fracture system capable of driving explosive break up